1/16/2005 - 6/30/2014I put my boy down today. He has been fighting cancer and went peacefully at home with me this morning.

Jimmie,

You had an amazing loving spirit and touched all who crossed your path.I'll cherish the memories of our long walks and great hikes. Will miss your reminders at 430pm every day for 9 years, that it was time for dinner.

I will forever miss you as my-wing man delivering golf clubs. Oh the road trips we took and the shady pet friendly hotels we stayed.

Your ferocious closed door warning followed by a gracious open door welcome to all who visited us. You were so proud and such a gentleman. You were a protector of our home, your sister, myself, and all who loved you.

You will be forever living in my heart, as I am so grateful of having you as my best friend.

Rest in peace Jimmie. You are now free to hunt the biggest fields, swim in the biggest lakes and track all the lizards you want.Gary WubbelsLas Vegas, NevadaJuly 11, 2014

"Im so glad I found Lap of Love! Dr Toby came to my home and we put Jimmie to rest peacefully."

5/6/1999 - 7/8/2014In loving memories and with deepest gratitude for our sweet Buddy Boy, our most precious, loyal friend. Buddy made it an honor to be running with his pack-we are so glad you chose us! We all loved him dearly, as "everybuddy loves our sweet Buddy".Oceana (Understood) McDanielRaleigh, North CarolinaJuly 11, 2014

Buddy came from "an excellent lineage of registered hunting dogs"; which..... meant absolutely nothing to me. Named Buddy, because he showed us exactly how to be a buddy-- a paw naturally extended and a wide smile, he welcomed all as long lost buddies.Buddy enjoyed the charmed life of "farmer by day", "resident snorer" (in my bed) by night. Buddy followed me around as I did farm chores, enthusiastic about all aspects of farm life. Using his great hunting blood and secret dog information, he camouflaged himself in any and all farm animal droppings so he could sneak up on all said animals at any time "should I need his excellent hunting and pointing abilities"....Buddy also loved rain, water, and mud; he never missed a good opportunity to experience the magical joys of water and how far mud/water could be flung from his long hair as he'd generously share this with all.Frequent baths, thanks to farm life, and a little kiddie wading pool were also rituals he loved. He was quite the investigative type while living on the farm, he had much joy; but also managed to shattered his elbow, break his wrist, contract parvo despite vaccinations, find a wire snare coyote trap (from poachers) on our land, get sprayed by skunks, bit by a goat, pecked by intolerant chickens, attempted to climb a tree, fell in a pig pond..whew..chased by a rooster, enjoyed singing with coyotes, flushed out several quail, woodcock, pheasant, rabbits, deer, coons, skunks, possums, mice, cows, cats, chickens, goats etc..... in the last year of his life he had many a good conversations with walls and doors.Buddy was just all in, never doing anything half-way. His happy energy was always excited about farm life, and his companion (and partner in grime), enjoyed many adventurous years on the farm.Eventually the farm was sold and home became a small log cabin in the middle of the Hoosier National Forest (and no neighbors). Buddy enjoyed a decade living there with over 200,000 acres to explore: hiking, camping, caving, sledding, lent a paw to master gardening (continually redesigning what I had already planted and doing a much better job than I...), wood gatherer (see pic), carpenter, bee dog--pointing bees that remained on me rather than return to the hive, wallowing in any form of water, creeks, ponds, puddles; he enjoyed cookouts, exploring, riding in the truck, and was fully appreciative of my terrible guitar playing. (after his hearing declined in old age-or perhaps due to my singing and playing--he would tuck his head beneath my guitar to hear the strains of music (see pic).Buddy loved life and embraced it fully. A true Brittany personality, combined with the wonderful Taurus qualities (good listener, keeper of secrets, friendly, sociable, etc...) meant any and every one-was unconditionally loved and accepted by sweet Buddy, as in wisdom he saw no "labels", instead only commonalities. He adopted many of us into his pack, with his gentle soul, loving guidance in showing us how to live in the moment, exemplified love unconditionally, a great lover of the earth and all Her beauty. He taught advanced classes of developing Inner Chi to those who were wise enough to pay attention.Buddy relocated to Virginia & NC area, living among his pack there during his last year of life. Loved by all, we are quite lost without his beautiful sweet energy enlightening us daily for fifteen plus seasons. Those that knew Buddy, believe Other pack leaders wept tears of Joy and let down those tears from the heavens in a cleansing rain, immediately upon giving back to Mother Earth his precious body, as Buddy came to join them. Now a pack leader in the heavens, we know we will meet again as he eagerly seeks us out showing off his new legs custom ordered. He is resting his old body by the pond he dearly loved; and painlessly, in totality of joy runs the fields and woods, swims the ponds of the great heavens and the earth below experiencing no boundaries.Our dearest Buddy, you grace us forever in our memories of being a member of your enlightened pack. How greatly you loved; how greatly you are loved and missed. Feel free to light a candle for all the Buddies in your life, past, present, and deep in your heart because....."Everybuddy loves Sweet Buddy."

"Dr. Jane lovingly assisted Buddy in his last few moments with us. Surrounded by family, Buddy was held in many of the arms that loved him. Dr. Jane's beautiful presence and kindness helped us in many ways. Her memorial keep sake of Buddy's paw print, his little clipping of hair, her books on grieving, her follow up care in email and with a card, and a suggestion to this web site have indeed helped us in our happy memories of Buddy while acknowledging how painful it is to us that have loved so dearly a member of our pack. Thank you Dr. Jane. I will always hold you close in my heart for the sacred work you do in helping us do what we cannot do ourselves for our own beloved members of our pack."

6/22/1996 - 7/8/2014Andy was my best friend, my confidante, my soul mate, and my partner. To call him just a pet or companion does not do justice to the depth of love I had for him. I am devastated by his absence, but know that I will see him again, when we will be together forever.Jim GiblinOakland Park, FloridaJuly 10, 2014

I’m writing this as Andy cat is sleeping next to me. There’s no way I would be in any position to write this after he passed on. Andy is 18 years old, and not feeling well. His time, as it does to all beings, is coming soon. I wanted there to be a testament to this animal…how critically important he has been in my life, and that he has given me far more than I could ever have given him.I met Andy in September of 1996, when he was just nine weeks old. I was living in suburban Chicago at the time, and following a bad break-up, I decided a second kitty was just the ticket. My girl kitty, Amber, had been with me since college and travelled with me to Chicago when I moved there in 1989. I attended a “pet show” for adoptable cats held by the Second Chance Pet Adoption (http://www.secondchancepetadoption.org/) and saw Andy with his brother Amos and sister Annie. Amos was adopted right as I walked in, so I asked to meet Andy. They put the two of us in a small room, and Andy was batting around his favorite toy, a balled up piece of tin foil. He was also making little sneezing noises, and I knew I had to take him. I did, and as is typical of fostered kitties, he had an upper respiratory infection, so I treated him for 10 days with antibiotics, and he came through like a champ. He was precocious, funny, and loved people almost from the get-go. Some friends from home visited me not long after I adopted him, and Andy managed to spill a bottle of Drakkar-Noir cologne on himself, so we called him “Drakkar-Noir kitty” for a while ‘cause he stank so bad! I had him neutered by a great vet in suburban Chicago, who actually begged me not to do it, as Andy had such a sweet disposition (and he was beautiful on top of it), that he wanted him to be a stud kitty! I declined, and sort of regret it now. I never for sure knew Andy’s breed, but I like to believe it was Norwegian Forest Cat.In 1998 I got a promotion with my job at the time which required a move to Boston. So, I packed up Amber and Andy, and flew them with me for the move. I sedated them before hand, and they were completely whacked before getting on the plan, which was amusing and distressing at the same time. While in Boston, Andy started a romance with Snowball, and pure white kitty from next door. She would come to the sliding glass door in front of my patio and rock her milkshake in front of Andy, who desperately wanted a piece of that. Their love remained unrequited.In the fall of 1998 Amber suddenly became ill. After a week at the vet they determined she had advanced heart disease, and needed to be let go. I brought Andy to the vet to see her one last time beforehand, and he knew the score. He looked right at her, went up to her, rubbed her head, and then went to the other side of the room. He had said his goodbyes. I brought him home, and took care of Amber. I eventually made it back home, crying hysterically, and sat with Andy as I mourned Amber. He put his paw on my hand as if to say, “It’s OK, I’m here.” Without Andy, I don’t know how I would have gotten through that horrible time.In June of 2000, I accepted a dream job in Fort Lauderdale, and it was time to move again. This time, I had to drive down, so Andy accompanied me on the three day drive down the east coast. He screamed all the way through Massachusetts, Rhode Island and half of Connecticut, and I was about to toss him on the interstate when he suddenly calmed down and resigned himself to the trip. We stopped over night in Norfolk and then Savannah, and he did great the entire rest of the way down. Our apartment wasn’t ready yet when we arrived, so we stayed for a week in a La Quinta Inn, where the cleaning ladies loved him and brought him treats. Note that *I* didn’t get any treats.We lived happily together in a rented 2 bedroom, 2 ½ bath townhome. The home had stairs, and Andy loved running up and down them. He talked to me constantly, and I always talked back. He helped me through the unexpected closing of the company I had moved to Florida to work for. I joined the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Lauderdale in July of 2001, and was fortunate to get a job working with the developmentally disabled population in 2003. Andy and I had a great relationship. In September of 2005 I bought a 2/2 condo, and Andy moved with me. He freaked out upon first entering, as a ceiling fan was spinning and he had never seen one before. Slowly he became comfortable with the place, and enjoyed going out on the enclosed patio.In November of 2009 I was leaving one of my group homes, and a tiny cat walked up to me. She was filthy, clearly hungry and thirsty, and her left eye was infected. I could not leave her there, so I bundled her up and brought her to a vet. The awesome vet pulled her back from the brink, and Ruby kitty (named in honor of Amber kitty!) joined my home. Andy was singularly unimpressed, but resigned himself to the intrusion. He was great at sharing and though he kept mostly to himself, I did catch them in an occasional lick-fest with one another.In June of 2010, Gizmo kitty dropped into my life. He was picked up by animal control in an abandoned home, and appeared to have been abused. I met him at an adoption event that I arrived at by accident, and Gizmo was “working the room”…meowing to get everyone’s attention. I knew I had to bring him home, so I did.Andy was a little distressed at the new addition, but eventually he and Gizmo became fast friends. Ruby is not the type of kitty to be bullied, so it is always amusing watching her and Gizmo interact. It’s definitely love-hate!Andy was always a healthy cat, but he started losing weight early in 2013. He was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, which is very common in older cats. We tried the standard medications, but Andy could not tolerate any of them. The only option was radiation that would fix the hyperthyroidism, but then might reveal other problems like kidney failure. I decided to leave him be. He continued to lose weight, but always ate like a pig and never had difficulty getting around or up on the bed. He started taking walks with me to the mailbox or out into the garden. He would never run, and he loved being outside. He especially loved when the kids in the complex came up and petted him. He was so gentle with everyone, but especially the children.In the last week, Andy started getting slower. He was sleeping more, and had lost some interest in his preferred activities. In the morning of June 30th, he had a horrible seizure, but bounced back from it. I began to consider what to do next, but waited for Andy to tell me it was time.Today, July 8, 2014 at 11AM Andy passed on. My sorrow is deep and profound.Without Andy, my life would have been so much less than it was. He illuminated my days and helped me sleep comfortably at nights. He comforted me, motivated me, chastised me, and congratulated me, all while loving me at the same time. My heart is broken into a thousand pieces. I am incredibly thankful for the 18 years we had together. We chose each other. I want him to be remembered.

"Dr. Diana was very compassionate, and made Andy's transition easy, extremely quick and painless. Thank you for your caring and consideration."

Rocky was adopted from the Humane Society after he was transferred here from a shelter in Puerto Rico that suffered hurricane damage. His love, loyalty, companionship, intelligence, and "handsomeness" never ceased to amaze, and we loved everything about him: his skill at hiding orange muffins (left undiscovered until we moved), persistence in wanting to bury anything larger than a small milk bone, impromptu runway prancing to model his new collar, inexplicable ability to remove and replace a peanut butter jar lid, unending quest to find the perfectly comfortable spot (no amount of blankets or cushions were ever enough), insistence on being with us wherever we were, enthusiasm to leave us and spend time with his Aunt Marsha, companionship on countless driving trips, bad breath, hatred for water, appetite for scrunchie hair products, choosing to have his only accident EVER on Conway's carpet, tricking his dad out of his chair, great love of w-a-l-k-s, and providing more joy and love than any pet had a right to. Rocky was never happier than when he was with his people, and even those who didn't care for dogs loved him. Our home is empty and out hearts are broken without him.

"Dr. Laura could not have been more caring and compassionate, during a very difficult time. She explained everything beforehand, and tended to her duties with a very tender touch."

5/3/2002 - 7/7/2014Chiq will forever remain in our hearts and home. She was a loyal companion and playmate to every child who came through the doors, a wonderful snuggler and lap dog…all 100 lbs of her, and a fierce guard dog when she felt it was necessary. We will miss your kind face and large presence every moment of the day, but our memories of your love and all of the fun we shared will keep us strong.Lindsay RobertsonCornelius, North CarolinaJuly 9, 2014

Chiquita Banana was named by my then, 4 and 2 year old sons. They wanted to name her Chicken nugget, french fry and ketchup (literally, all 3 names as one!). I could not bring myself to fill out the AKC registry with Chicken Nugget, so we compromised on Chiquita Banana, aka, Chiq. She loved her family and her "sister" Coco. Her favorite pastimes were snuggling on the leather sofa, swimming in Lake Norman, following mom around the yard gardening, and getting dried off after a bath or swim. She had a fantastic smile when she she knew she did something she was not supposed to do!

"Dr. Laura will fondly be remembered as the angel that delivered our Chiq to heaven. She took away Chiq's pain while she rested on our deck, with all of us by her side."

2/22/1999 - 7/6/2014To my big black bear, Rocky, I miss you so much. Thank you for being a loving, sweet, funny and loyal fur kid and friend. I knew you years before you and your adopted brother, Ben, came to live with me just a little over 5 years ago. Thank you for your unconditional love. I will miss you begging for food (even though your's cost more than mine usually,) your barking even when their was nothing to really bark at, your waggy tail, your panting tongue, your thick polar bear fur, giant paws, laying out on the deck, playing "ball" when you were so good at it, you thinking you were a lapdog but really weighed almost 90 lbs. and always being there for me. I was so lucky to have you for the time that I did. I love and miss you, "old man," with your handsome gray beard and smiling face.

RIP, Rocky - July 6, 2014

Allison MorrisAtlanta, GAAllison MorrisAtlanta, GeorgiaJuly 9, 2014

Rocky's previous owner was going to drop him and his "brother" Ben, a Rhodesian Ridgeback Mix, to the pound. I had known them, babysat for them and played with them from the time their first owner adopted them. So, I adopted Rocky (Labrador Mix) and Ben together. Ben passed away from Lymphoma July 4, 2011. I miss and love them both.

"It was a Sunday and holiday weekend, and I was fortunate enough to get connected with Dr. Katie, at a terribly sad and unfortunate time. Without her and Lap of Love, this awful day would have been even worse for my Rocky. She made him comfortable, was so kind and genuine, and she made it possible for him to be with me in his home when it was his time for him to go. Dr. Katie wrote such kind words on Lap of Love's Facebook page in memory of Rocky. Thank you for your compassion and understanding that Rocky was my family and fur kid."

My mom convinced me to get a kitten after my first surgery for endometriosis in 1999. It had been a difficult year and she thought it would be good for me to have a furry friend. I lived alone at the time. I had not yet found a roommate at my new condo in Wilmington. We went to Walmart where there was a cat adoption team out front. I was looking at the kittens when I spotted Roo. She was a tiny tabby with big feet. I decided to hold her to see if we had a connection. I knew she was the one for me because she was so calm and content even with loud noises all around. We picked each other and mom & I took her home.

She was very frisky and explored the house. She even took a nap on my dad’s belly. It took me a while to choose her name. I observed her as she played and noticed that she hopped around the room. It made me think of a kangaroo bouncing around. I also loved the Winnie the Pooh characters so I instantly thought of the name Roo for the baby kangaroo from that series.

We were fast friends. She always wanted to be close to me. It got to the point that I could not even sleep because she would curl up next to my head and purr very loudly. She would also make biscuits in my hair. Eventually we found our rhythm. She was sweet and calm with me, but I soon realized that she was not this way with just anyone. It usually took her a while to warm up to different people.

Even when Keith & I started dating again it took a long time for her to accept that he would be a permanent fixture in our lives. When she finally came around it was like they had known each other forever. Roo was like our child, especially once we got married.

When she was younger I would always wake up in the middle of the night to make sure we hadn’t suffocated her in our sleep. It was a little compulsive, but I just loved her so much that she would enter my dreams each night. We always anticipated seeing her when we got home from work and we always worried about her when we would go away for a long weekend or a vacation. Whenever we returned from a lengthy time away we would excitedly look forward to seeing our girl when we got home. Every night for years she would join us to snuggle at night. She often would find her spot right between us and made a concerted effort to touch both of us in some way.

As she got older, she became more set in her ways. She got into a routine where she would come snuggle for a little while each night, but would venture out to eat a bite or wander the house. We could always count on her returning around midnight. She would jump up, crawl over my head and sneak under the covers. There she would curl up behind my legs where she would stay all night.

She was a younger cats she loved to play paper ball as a young, spry kitty. She would fetch for as long as you wanted to play. As she got older she was less inclined to fetch, but she would run and sit for treats and tuna. She loved tuna right up until the days before she died.

Roo was so special to me. I underwent six more surgeries for endometriosis. Each time she was my constant companion, often sleeping by my side for days without leaving to eat, drink or do anything else. She always knew when I was sad or needed comforting. She would crawl into my lap, nuzzle my chin and kiss my face. She never judged my sadness or any other feeling I was experiencing. She would just be there for me. I truly believe God sent her to me to help me through some difficult times. Unfortunately, Roo got cancer. She was doing well until the tumor got so large that it kept her from eating and caused her to not be able to eliminate. She began having a hard time walking, often falling over. She became lethargic and started crying in pain whenever we would try to pick her up.

I always heard people say, you will know by the way they look at you that it is time to say good-bye. Roo gave me that look one day, the look that said “How much longer do I have to feel this way? Can’t you do anything?” I knew then that I could not keep her in this world to suffer just because I was not ready to let her go. I would never have been ready for that day.

I had to say goodbye because it was the best thing to do for her. A piece of my heart left with Roo on July 1, 2014. I never want to forget her. The house seems so empty without her. Everywhere I look, I think I see her. All her usual spots….my side of the bed, the bench under the window sill, or on the back of the big pink chair (aka, the kitty nest). Life isn’t the same without her. I know life will go on and things will get easier. For right now, I am sad and miss my friend.

May 25, 2003- I remember it like it was yesterday. It was Memorial Day weekend and we were headed to Angola for a party after church- it was a Sunday. I was getting ready when my mom calls from downstairs. "Cher come see what John has for you." I come down with my hair still wet, in a towel, and I walk outside to see a beautiful black lab puppy. She had been abandoned on the NYS thruway and John had found her, rescued her, and brought her to the Lunger house where he knew she'd be treated like royalty. She was a mini Jessie (and was called JJ for a few days - Jessie Junior- until I finally settled on the name Julia Renee - "Jr.")

Today, after much consideration to her quality of life, it became necessary to say goodbye to my loyal companion of 11 years!

"My baby girl,"Julia! The one who: sat in the potted plants when she was a puppy, who took morning "dips" in the pool or just sat on the rafts and floated around, the one who made "shoe piles"- lefts only- to sleep on while I was gone, the one who had a pillow (her mom) that she carried around with her everywhere and had to "settle" before bed, the one that sat by my side night after night following my surgery being the best "nurse" a girl could ask for, the one who could "talk" to us and we could understand her, the one who loved Halloween because she could dress up and wait at the door to see all the trick-or-treaters, the one who loved 4th of July -because of the fireworks -and would sit for hrs and days leading up to the 4th outside watching for the "action," the one who also loved Christmas because it meant she could open presents- yes, they all had to be wrapped, and any thing that was wrapped was fair game for her to open, the one who wanted you to hide plastic Easter eggs around the house so she can search them out and find the treats hidden inside. No one loved holidays more than Julia. No dog, that I ever had, was as smart or human like as Julia. She was my first adult responsibly and my best friend.

I take comfort in knowing she is with her dog pal - Reese- who made the journey just a few weeks ago! They are happy, running, playing and enjoying all that Heaven has to offer. She is out of pain and happy again! So while I may be sad that's she's not by my side anymore, I know she'll be watching over me everyday and waiting for me sometime in the distant, distant future... Hopefully with plastic Easter eggs and her Halloween costume!

"Dr Schulz was amazing! He was gentle, and compassionate with us and Julia. He made the entire process peaceful and easier to go through. Thank you Dr. Schultz"

1/27/2000 - 7/7/2014In loving memory of Gracie, a beautiful 14 year old German Shepherd from Riverside, CA... Gracie was a special girl, loving companion, and cherished member of the family. In her prime, she loved to go on her daily walks with her daddy and chase "her" kids around the house. As she aged, it became more difficult for Gracie to get around. Her family wanted what was best for her and today, surrounded by her loved ones, she earned her angel wings. Rest in peace, Grace; you will be forever missed.Vicki BavierRiverside, CaliforniaJuly 8, 2014

"Dr. Erin made this unbelievably difficult decision so much easier for us. We could not bear to take Gracie to a sterile veterinarian's office. We wanted her last moments to be here, in the only home she has known for the past 12 years. Dr. Erin was extremely compassionate and treated our baby like it was one of her own. The wonderful touches such as a plaster paw print, a lock of Gracie's hair, and just a loving message from her was so unexpected and wonderful. If we ever find ourselves in the position to say goodbye to a future friend, I would have it no other way. Thank you Dr. Erin. What wonderful work you do."

1/1/2000 - 6/25/2014It is so often that I think I see you out of the corner of my eye, or hear you flapping your ears. It is so often that I look at my feet and expect to see you there.....where you always were, under toe. 14 years you were a part of our family. A family that started with two newlyweds and grew into a beautiful family of four. You were there when we brought our babies home, laid by them, licked them and loved them. As they grew you kept a watchful eye - but gave them space. You were there for everything - good times and hard times. Always there. We watched you age - but truly didn't think this day would ever come. You were invincible! The day came, sweet baby girl..... we loved you enough to set your free. You will never ever be forgotten - and never replaced. There are far to many things we will miss about you - but mostly the empty place behind each of us - as you always were our shadow. We love you so......Stephanie LaBohnTampa, FloridaJuly 8, 2014

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